WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Masters of the Universe: Revelation Part 2, now streaming on Netflix.
One of the most intriguing aspects of Masters of the Universe: Revelation Part 1 was how Scare Glow made a return to the franchise. After being a throwaway ghoul that wasn't followed up on in the early days of He-Man, this show turned him from being a plush toy to a lord of the demonic underworld known as Subternia. Sadly, as he returns as the series' most sinister villain, Part 2 totally wastes the potential the character has by making him a joke.
Scare Glow proved to be quite a fiend, using the shadows in his realm and illusions to trap and trick Teela, Evil-Lyn, Andra, Cringer and Orko as they tried to get to Preternia to free Prince Adam and return magic to Eternia in Part 1. He'd end up claiming Orko's soul, which left fans eager to see the heroes battling the tyrant once more.
That opportunity arises in Part 2 when Evil-Lyn steals the Power of Grayskull, usurps Skeletor and becomes a sadistic god herself. She knows Eternia's forces are banding together, though, so she summons Subternia's evil legion to defend her, with Scare Glow rising up too. The problem with this, is his personality is totally scrubbed and he's transformed into a weak pleb.
He goes from a king to a mindless pawn, attacking Orko and Co. but becoming totally subjugated. He's such a big character in this story, it'd have been profound to have him and Evil-Lyn brokering a deal, with Scare Glow agreeing to become her lackey for some gift. Having him faking it, plotting to eventually backstab her and steal the power for himself would also fit what she did to Skeletor, and honor what Skeletor would do himself.
This would have added nuance, and perhaps shed light on how he turned into a ghastly shepherd of the afterlife. After all, we've got no idea if he's a god or a man who got made into this dark entity.
Getting insight into his past may even have informed Skeletor's mysterious history, perhaps linking them as family as they have similar looks and plans of domination. Unfortunately, by relegating Scare Glow to this laughable cameo, allowing Orko to batter him down and bounce him around like a ball, the show does no justice to someone we thought would be a tour de force.
Even when Subternia's forces are banished, we don't see what happens with Scare Glow. It'd have been nice to have him plotting revenge and wanting Orko's soul back after a redeemed Lyn kept the mage in the real world, crafting a true character portrait. Hopefully, future seasons explore more of Scare Glow as an intimidating, scary threat and undoes how he was shaped into pathetic comic relief.
The entire 10-episode first season of Masters of the Universe: Revelation is now available on Netflix.